All enrolled students and their parents or guardians will complete baseline anxiety questionnaires. Students with a positive baseline screen will receive a brief school nurse-delivered coping skill, referral support when indicated, and follow-up assessments at approximately three and six months. Students with a negative screen will not enter the intervention and follow-up phase.
Three or more nurse visits for somatic complaints within the past 6 weeks. For this study, somatic complaints are defined as the following physical symptoms that are not otherwise linked to exclusionary illness or chronic medical processes: stomach aches, headaches, fatigue, & generalized muscle aches.
Absenteeism greater than or equal to 10% of total school days due to the previously defined somatic complaints, within the past 6 weeks.
English-speaking without an interpreter (both student and guardian).
Currently receiving ongoing behavioral health services, including psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, or active behavioral health case management.
Brief, one-time crisis counseling is not considered ongoing services.
Questions about eligibility should be directed to the Principal Investigator.
Presence of a chronic medical diagnosis that fully accounts for the student's repeated somatic visits (e.g., asthma with frequent exacerbations, epilepsy, diabetes, sickle cell disease, or active cancer treatment).